Improvement in corsets



M. M. BARRIMAN.

CORSET. "No. 190,032. p PatentedAprilM, 1877.

NFETERS. PI 'IOi'O-UTH OGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNI ED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MAGGIE M. HARRIMAN, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN coRsETs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,032, dated April 24, 1877 application filed April 7, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Mrs. MAGGIE M. HAR- RIMAN, of Kansas City, in the county of J ackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Corset; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My improvement consists in the form or manner of cutting the sides of the body of the corset; also, in quilting those portions of the back of the corset which cover the shoulder-blades, and inserting short bones in the part beneath them, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a view of the front, and Fig. 2 a view of the back, of the corset.

In order to give the proper shape and required elasticity to the bust, the gores A are cut straight on the outer edges and bias on the inner edges, which are joined to the respective parts I) and d of the corset. The corset is cut straight on the sides, (2. a, on the vertical line between the shoulders and top of the hips,) between the points d d, and bones are also dispensed with on the sides. In other Words, the front and back portions of the corset are cut in such manner that when united they form the straight portion between the points 01 d.

The corset is thereby conformed to the natural shape of the human body, and rendered far more easy and comfortable in use, there being virtually no unpleasant pressure or constraint, such as is incident to the use of corsets of the ordinary construction.

The sides of the waist are cut straight, (i. e., in the vertical line between the shoulders and top of the hips, between the points (1 d,) in place of being curved, as usual heretofore. The corset is thereby conformed to the shape of thebody of the wearer, and rendered far more easy and comfortable in use.

The bones or stift'eners are likewise less liable to break at that point than in the ordinary corset, since they are bent at a more obtuse angle.

Another important advantage of this construction is, that the corset is adapted to be worn as a dress-waist, so that the discomfort attending the wearing (in warm weather) of a common corset, and outer dress-waist for covering the same, may be avoided at pleasure, without, however, dispensing with the use of a corset altogether. In such case the corset will be covered with silk or other suit able fine and ornamental fabric.

In place of the backstifit'eners 0 being extended to the top of the corset, they terminate at a point, e, a small distance above the middle portion of the corset, and the parts D, which cover the shoulder-blades, are closely quilted, -in order that they may possess the required stiffness, along with a certain degree of flexibility.

The parts D D have the general outline of the shoulder-blades, and the upper ends of the bones O terminate at points 6 c, on a line inclined to their length. The above-described form and construction of the sides and back of the corset render it very elastic and durable, and also easy for the wearer, in addition to its adaptation for use as a dress-waist.

What I claim is 1. A corset having the front and back portions out as described, so that when united the sides will be straight between the points 01 d, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

2. In a corset, the combination of the backstiffeners O, terminating at e, and the quilted shoulder portions D, of the configuration shown, the whole being arranged as and for the purpose specified.

MRS. MAGGIE M. HARRIMAN.

Witnesses:

DAVID S. HABRIMAN, AMos W. HART. 

